Francesco is a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. Silvia Giordani at Dublin City University, supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund.

Francesco obtained his BSc and MSc in Chemistry from the University of Genoa (Italy) in 2017 and 2020, respectively. During his Master’s thesis, he worked on the synthesis of potential organocatalysts through multicomponent reactions. He then completed his PhD in 2024 at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), where he was involved in a drug discovery project focused on the development of novel chemical probes targeting non-coding RNAs. His research combined the optimisation of innovative synthetic methodologies with the use of computational platforms to support the rational design of potent and selective compounds. Following his PhD, Francesco joined the University of Milan as a postdoctoral researcher, where he worked on the design and synthesis of PNA/DNA hybrid aptamers as antiviral agents.

Currently, his research interest involve the development of fluorescent aptamers as diagnostic sensors for neurodegenerative diseases.